Otherwise known as Mama Grizzlies.

Uh oh.

Fred Upton, a Republican from Michigan, is insisting he is worthy to [...]]]>

Uh oh.

Fred Upton, a Republican from Michigan, is insisting he is worthy to chair the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and has written an Op Ed in the Washington Examiner titled, “Rep. Fred Upton: A new majority for America.” In it, he describes what he will do if in fact he is chosen as chair, and reiterates his manly chainsaw approach to the budget, and unfortunately, uses the words, “shine the spotlight” on the Obama-Pelosi regulatory policies.

Hang on, check the spotlight bulb first, is it the government-mandated type?

But the kicker was when he said,

“I also look forward to working with my fellow pro-life colleagues to protect the sanctity of life, beginning with the passage of Rep. Joseph Pitts’ Protect Life Act and Rep. Christopher Smith’s No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act.”

Hang on, gotta check another link. Wait, Mr. Johnson of the National Right to Life Committee points out that Upton’s Pro-Life record is abysmal, voting against Pence’s legislation to cut off funding of Planned Parenthood twice.

“Johnson goes on to highlight Upton’s votes for cloning, embryonic stem-cell research, and the abortion drug RU-486. Johnson also points out Upton’s record on the unborn victims’ of violence act:

During the Administration of President George W. Bush, one of the major pro-life debates in Congress was over this question: If, during commission of a violent federal crime, a criminal attacks a pregnant woman and kills her unborn child, does that crime have one victim, or two? Polls showed that about 80% of the public said “two victims,” but Mr. Upton’s answer was “one victim” – he twice voted for the Lofgren Substitute, which would have codified the doctrine that such a crime has only one victim”

The Weekly Standard posts the entire letter from Douglas Johnson to the House Republican Steering Committee. Johnson points out,

“Throughout his career in the House, Mr. Upton has been a strong defender of Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider.”

After reading that piece in the the Weekly Standard, Nolan Finley looks like a fool in his, ‘What a great pal Fred is,’ post in Sunday’s Detroit News.

Finley points out that Upton says he’s a conservative and votes with the GOP leadership nearly 100 percent of the time. Well, to quote my mechanic, “there’s your problem right there.”

It is the duty of conservatives to be conservatives first, and unfortunately, Upton is a Republican first, who is not conservative, even though he uses words like cut and chainsaw.

Upton’s record clearly shows he is liberal, and many people I know would call him a RINO, but the idea that he is being considered for the Chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee after all that has come to light is unreal.

Rep. Doc Hastings of Washington has suggested this week that the Energy Committee be enveloped by his Resources Committee for many reasons, which would moot the rejection of Upton altogether.

According to the Houston Chronicle, there are four “contenders to the top Energy job- Reps. Fred Upton of Michigan, John Shimkus of Illinois, Cliff Stearns of Florida and Barton” of Texas. Barton is term-limited by the House’s own rules, but is seeking a waiver from his colleagues to run again. Barton made news during the BP oil spill this summer, when he apologized to BP for the government’s “shakedown.” Barton was immediately back-handed by the leadership and was forced to apologize for his comments lest he lose his committee seat on the Energy Committee. But, Barton’s comment was right by conservatives like Rush Limbaugh and Mark Levin, who denounced the leadership for reprimanding Barton. It is believed Cantor and Boehner forced him to apologize, and they are still in charge.

Incidentally, Barton has a 94% rating from the American Conservative Union, Shimkus has an 88% rating, Stearns has a 94% rating and Upton, a 72% rating.

Freedom Works has posted a website titled, “Down With Upton!” that points out his non-conservative leanings and sends visitors to call members of the GOP Steering Committee and to sign a petition against Upton.

What McDowell says,

You make a very good point, just so you know the [...]]]>

What McDowell says,

You make a very good point, just so you know the statistic is out there, 70% of your total healthcare in your entire life is spent the last three months of your life. And as a society, if we can’t get a control on that, we’re not gonna be able to provide the healthcare up front, we’re not gonna be able to you know, provide for our children’s education, and we won’t be able to provide for all the other things we need to do first, as a society. Because we are taking so much money for healthcare at the end of life. And the reason is, I’ve mentioned this before, that our healthcare system is based upon procedures, doing these procedures with real expensive gadgets and whistles and bells.

The first time I was running for office, my first campaign manager, I brought that statistic up, and as a society, we only have so many resources out there, we only have so many resources for healthcare, or education, or protecting our environment, or public safety, and we have to decide how we are going to allocate those resources to get the most we can get out of it. And she told me, “Don’t you ever, ever say that again.”

But we have to realize that as a society, that eventually, we are going to have to make some tough decisions, individually, working with your family, your surgical and also with your healthcare provider on what’s the best course.

WE MUST REPEAL IT!

Bart Stupak stuck his nose in the MI01 race for the first time, and embarrassed himself. Stupak is bumbling around, trying to win the MI01 seat for [...]]]>

Bart Stupak stuck his nose in the MI01 race for the first time, and embarrassed himself. Stupak is bumbling around, trying to win the MI01 seat for another Obama pawn, Gary McDowell. Using an answer that Chad “tool of the left” Stevens asked Dan Benishek about the War on Drugs, Stupak and McDowell thought they could muddy up Dr. Benishek’s reputation.

The Petoskey News-Review has the story and the youtube of Benishek answering the question.

The Northern Michigan Liberty Alliance put on the vetting forum, and by the way, invited Gary McDowell who was a no-show. By watching the video, you can see that Dr. Benishek was clearly speaking about less government at the federal level, putting the power in the hands of the people at the local level.

The libertarian kook faction of NMLA who held the “vetting” forum in Mackinaw City on Labor Day weekend, insisted that, (while the rest of us are focused on slowing down and stopping this administration, the greatest threat to our liberty,) Benishek answer a question on the War on Drugs.

Ah yes, the war on drugs, such a huge liberty issue when this administration and the modern Democrat Party is bankrupting the nation, bowing to dictators, increasing misery through taxation, and forcing centralized control. These guys don’t seem to pay attention too well, they believe that we are already so far gone, that this Obama thing is nothing new. Tools of the Left.

However, in order to show how out of touch the Democrats are on the issue of constitutionality, Chad “the tool” may just have been helpful to the Right for once.

Let’s remember that Stupak took an oath to uphold the Constitution 9 times in the last 18 years, and he spit on it every year. I wrote about Stupak last November in, “Bart Stupak doesn’t agree with Madison and Jefferson,” where I point to Stupak’s interview with Frank Beckmann, that “not everyone agreed with Madison and Jefferson,” and used it as a reason why he believes Obamacare will be held up as Constitutional by the Supreme Court.

From that post:

Things get a little contentious here, and this is why I like to listen to Beckmann. He rightly points out that no where in the Constitution does it allow for the government to take over the health care industry. Bart insists it does say so in Article I, Section 8 with the words the left have been using to bring the country to point it is today with rampant socialism and welfare programs that have done nothing but create a dependent society-”The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to…provide for…..general welfare….”

When Frank tells Stupak that we must look for the intent of the signers like Madison to understand the article, Bart says, “not everyone agreed with Maderson (sic) and Jefferson,” and that if the government agrees that it is in the best interest of the nation, it is constitutional. Frank replies:

Congressman with all due respect, if you are promoting that, with all due respect, I think you are promoting tyranny. You are not following the constitution which says, that there are ways to change the Constitution through amendment, and a majority vote in the congress is not one of them.

This statement befuddles Stupak to the point that Frank has to reiterate that the Constitution places restrictions on congress, and Bart still doesn’t get it, and says if you don’t agree that what the one-party rule says in Washington, take it to court.

In that post, I include the whole 17 minute interview, and it proves just how ignorant Stupak is. McDowell is no better.

Big-government-crony-capitalist-tax-and-spenders–that’s what they are, and nothing, not even the Constitution will get in their way.

The Republican Party of Michigan had better put a stop to this before the Democrats take up the idea. Bruce Patterson (R) Canton introduced bill [...]]]>

The Republican Party of Michigan had better put a stop to this before the Democrats take up the idea. Bruce Patterson (R) Canton introduced bill 1323, (Establish “Michigan Registered Reporter” registration and screening criteria) on May 11th, 2010.

Shut up, Americans!

This is the type of thing that really ticks off the tea party people. The idea that our lawmakers are supposed to protect us from ourselves. NO! You lawmakers are supposed to protect our rights and our borders, pay the bills on legitimate spending set forth in the Constitution AND NO MORE!

What are we doing here?  Did I wake up in China?  I suppose the moderates in our party thought this was a grand idea.

According to Fox News, the law would:

… regulate reporters much like the state does with hairdressers, auto mechanics and plumbers.

According to the bill, reporters must provide the licensing board proof of:

–”Good moral character” and demonstrate they have industry “ethics standards acceptable to the board.”

–Possession of a degree in journalism or other degree substantially equivalent.

–Not less than 3 years experience as a reporter or any other relevant background information.

–Awards or recognition related to being a reporter.

–Three or more writing samples.

Reporters will also have to pay an application and registration fee.

That’s crazy, but this is even crazier:

Patterson, who also practices constitutional law, says that the general public is being overwhelmed by an increasing number of media outlets–traditional, online and citizen generated–and an even greater amount misinformation.

He practices constitutional law hey?  Um, hey Brucie, I’m just a seamstress, but I know damn well that Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.  Would you like a pocket Constitution, I have three extra from the Heritage Foundation.

The senator said that he feels that there’s no way to tell who’s a legitimate journalist and who’s just rewriting other reporters’ reporting and twisting facts.

“What’s the definition of a reporter? I haven’t been able to find out? What’s a reporter? What’s a journalist?” Patterson said. “I thought you had to have a degree in journalism but apparently not. I could retire and be a journalist.”

Yes, see we are all stupid, and we can’t think for ourselves, so Bruce wants us to be able to click on the reporters name and find out every thing about them so we can then make a judgement on whether they have sourced material. Do we do that on a national level?  Does Keith Olbermann sound like he came out of journalism school?

Obviously, if I cite a source and take quotes from the source, it’s sourced.  It is then up to the reader to click the sources ie. the highlighted words and phrases that take them to the original news source.

But my point in writing about all of this is that Bruce Patterson is a Republican.  The Republican party is supposed to be on the side of limited government and adherence to our founding principles.

Bruce Patterson probably should retire and become a journalist, he is term-limited (Thank God) and practicing Constitutional Law would be way over his head.

While standing in 30 degree weather in Sault Ste. Marie, waiting for the Tea Party Express, I had [...]]]>

While standing in 30 degree weather in Sault Ste. Marie, waiting for the Tea Party Express, I had the opportunity to ask some of Bart Stupak’s challengers what they thought about the 9-term Congressman’s exit from Congress that day.

One of his challengers is Tom Stillings.  Born in Massachusetts, Tom is  a former steel broker, who worked his way up to that position, retired and moved to the lower peninsula part of the First District 14 years ago from Detroit.  Described as a “tea party” Republican, Tom resides in Torch Lake.

I asked Tom what his reaction was to Stupak’s retirement announcement earlier that day.

Tom replied, “Stupak jumping out today is a credit to all the people of the district, but especially the tea party people in the Northern Michigan Liberty Alliance.  Because you know what, you people are the ones who sent him outta town.  I have the Stillings Solution, which is a multi-step process.  Step One was to get rid of Stupak, and you guys did all the heavy lifting for me, he’s gone, now I can just jump right to step two.  So this is good, and I thank you people.  You did America a great service by running ol’ Bart out of town.”

I posed the same question to Dr. Dan Benishek.  Dr. Benishek is a general surgeon who was lived and worked in the First District nearly his whole life.

Dr. Benishek responded, “I think we should pray for Mr. Stupak, and I think we should wish him well, and have a good time with his family.  I think we should move on, and be happy he is out of Congress, and go on with our lives.  That what we should do, but, he needs our prayers.”

I got up at 4 that morning to do my taxes.  I waited because I knew I’d have to owe.  I [...]]]>

I got up at 4 that morning to do my taxes.  I waited because I knew I’d have to owe.  I have friends who actually think that if you pay in taxes, you must either make a lot of money, or you’re doing it wrong.  I fall in neither category.  As I’ve said elsewhere on this blog, I am a seamstress, my husband is a mechanic and a union member.

Anyway, after I finished my taxes, I went to work, told everyone there how my taxes went, and reminded them I was leaving early going to the Soo (Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.)

“Now, tell me why again?” asked my friend Doris.

I said, “After our leaders in Washington decided to spend trillions of dollars we don’t have, and consequently they will raise taxes for, I stand in protest.”

After we  picked up the kids from school, we headed to the Post Office to mail my return.  I owed 400 dollars more for the State of Michigan than last year, and since I like to use my money all year, rather than give it to the government biweekly, I owed over 2,000 dollars between the State and Federal.  It is a good thing we have deer meat in the freezer yet, or else I would have to take on more debt to feed the family the next couple of months.

By all accounts, the number of patriots attending the Soo Tea Party reached up to and over 300.  I was impressed.  When we drove up, (my husband and children came with me) there seemed to be just a few people there.  However, just as we were walking from our parking spot, it was like a pilgrimage of people coming from all directions, calmly walking to the open space by the river.  Some were carrying signs, some with dogs, some with little ones.  Once we got there, we were no longer afraid that we would be the only ones.

There were several speakers, one was Jim Jacobson, former policy analyst for the Reagan Administration who reminded us of Reagan’s quotable quotes about the size of government and how ineffective it is.  The organizers did a great job of including a singer, who led us all in the Star Spangled Banner, God Bless America, and This Land Is Your Land, and two men from a local radio show had a great time on stage pointing out all the wasteful spending included in the stimulus package.  The whole program lasted an hour which culminated with most of the attendees lining up to throw tea into the Saint Mary River.

When my husband and I talked with some of the attendees, we found out that our drive of 2 1/2 hours was not as far as some had come.  There were people from Marquette, Boyne City, Detroit and Battle Creek, Cheboygan and Mackinaw City, Rogers City and Hawks.  And no, none of us were paid to be there.

I  have friends that do not understand that the money they get back at tax time isn’t money from the government, it is money they overpaid throughout the year.  Consequently, they never see the big number they actually paid in.  I’m serious!  And one of them is a school teacher!

Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan is a town of about 16,000 people and is the oldest city in the midwest.   It is at the eastern edge of Michigan’s upper peninsula, and is connected to Canada via the International Bridge to it’s twin city of  Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.